Homers lead UH to softball sweep

By Ann Miller
Advertiser Staff Writer

They might be from Down Under, but everything Stacey Porter and Kate Judd hit lately seems to go up and over.

University of Hawai'i leadoff batter Natalie Gonazles singled to center start the Wahine's first-inning surge. She later scored on a two-run double by Kate Judd. Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser

Before 170 fans, Hawai'i (44-16) ran its Western Athletic Conference record to 14-4 and pulled into a virtual tie for first place with 16th-ranked Fresno State (13-3). SJSU (26-37), which upset FSU a month ago, dropped to 5-11.

The WAC champion gets a berth in the NCAA Tournament, while the runner-up has to hope its season will merit an at-large invitation.

"San Jose is very capable of beating us," UH coach Bob Coolen said. "I told the girls tonight not to lose focus of what they want to accomplish tomorrow, as far as a message to the NCAA.

"If we sweep, we'd have 12 in a row. The NCAA looks at the last 10, and five were on the road. That would help us very much."

The Wahine needed no help last night, pounding three Spartan pitchers to compensate for sloppiness Coolen attributed to strike-induced academic panic.

In the opener, Desiree Duran came within an out — maybe just an inch — of pitching the Wahine's fifth consecutive shutout. Duran (16-4) settled for her eighth straight victory, holding the Spartans scoreless until two were out in the top of the seventh.

Katie Gomes broke the drought with an RBI single barely inside the right-field line and barely outside first baseman Porter's grasp. SJSU scored again on a rain-assisted wild pitch and, after a two-minute drizzle break, Duran got the final out.

The Spartans' only other serious threat came in the first, when Duran struck out Veronica Ramos — San Jose's best hitter by 60 points — with runners on second and third.

The Wahine didn't let the same opportunity get away. Natalie Gonzales led off the bottom of the first with the first of her six Friday-night singles. She stole second and moved to third on Tyree Woodruff's single. After Woodruff stole second, Judd slashed a two-run double to the wall.

Two innings later, Porter launched a two-run homer into the tennis courts and Judd followed with a shot 20 feet left, into the batting cage. It was Judd's eighth homer of the season — one off the school record — and her sixth in a WAC game.

Judd was also involved in Hawai'i's first run of the second game. With UH trailing 1-0, she opened the second with a single hit so fast it appeared to go through pitcher Candice Akin. Judd moved to second on a grounder, and pinch-runner Kimi Kaneshiro to third on another. Kaneshiro scored the tying run on a wild pitch.

Judd and Porter put the Wahine ahead for good in the fourth.

Porter drew a lead-off walk and Judd followed with a double hit so hard to the wall in right-center Porter could not score — for a moment. April Crowell grounded out, but Porter beat the first baseman's throw home with a brilliant slide, reaching for the plate with her left hand.

Kristin Anderson then singled Judd home for what proved to be the winning run. Porter iced Witt's win when she crushed a two-run homer back into the tennis courts in a three-run fifth.

The Wahine were so dominant late in both games, Coolen forgave the five errors and Duran and Witt's control struggles.

Anderson, a four-year starter in center field, had her first two errors of the season last night. Coolen forgave her, saying she had "pulled all-nighters" the previous two nights to study. Woodruff contributed to his generosity, making two spectacular catches in right.

Hawai'i closes its regular season with a 1 p.m. doubleheader today against the Spartans. UH seniors Janelle Gonzales, Woodruff, Duran and Anderson will be honored after the final game.